Initiated by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts in Berlin in 2004, the festival series "Şimdi Now" continue this year in Sweden with a series of events under the name "Şimdi Now Sweden".

Organised by Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and Riksteater, the festival is realized under the auspices of The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the contribution of The Promotion Fund of the Turkish Prime Ministry and in collaboration with Södra Teatern, Fasching, Medelhavsmuseet, Farhang, Moriska Paviljongen and Svensk-Turkisk Riksteaterförening.

Artists from Turkey, who live abroad or in Turkey are performing in different disciplines of art including music, theater and literature in the festival.

The festival has started with the concert of the Turkish rock band, Duman in August 19 in Gustav Adolfs torg On October 5, the Södra Teatern in Stockholm has hosted the play Ne Dersin Azizim, written by Aziz Nesin. The play was presented one more time on October 7 in Pustervik Teatern in Göteborg.

The next event of the festival is the performance of İlhan Erşahin's Istanbul Sessions feat. Bugge Wesseltoft. The group, which was founded three years ago by İlhan Erşahin will be performing on October 18 in Fasching. On October 27 Mehmet Murat Somer, who became one of the top seller authors with his series of books Hop-Çiki-Yaya will be reading passages from his books in Medelhavsmuseet.

Events will continue with the performance of İncesaz in Södra Teatern on October 29. The group, which was founded in 1996 and has recorded 5 albums, will be performing the Tango Project for the first time. On November 25, Gayda Istanbul will be presenting Balkan and Gypsy melodies to the Swedish audience in Malmö's Moriska Paviljongen, which will be followed by another performance on November 26 in Kista World Music Festival. The events will end with the concert of Sıla, a popular Turkish singer, in Cirkus on December 22.

* We would like to give our very special thanks to Intercult for supporting the project.